John Barros

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Barros, a Democrat, ran the first of his two unsuccessful campaigns in Boston's nonpartisan mayoral elections in 2013. [22] In April 2013 Barros announced his intention to run for mayor of the City of Boston. [3] [10] He failed to make it past the nonpartisan primary into the general election, placing sixth in the primary, with 8.10% of the vote. [23] In the primary, The Boston Globe made a dual-endorsement of both Barros and John R. Connolly. [24] Despite losing, Barros gained much broader recognition in Boston through his campaign for mayor. [25] [26]

Before he launched his own candidacy, Barros was approached by Marty Walsh about working on the campaign for Walsh's planned candidacy. Walsh and Barros had been longtime friends. The two had both grown up only blocks apart from each other. In the 2013 mayoral primary, however, Barros and Walsh found themselves running against each other. [26]

After being eliminated, Barros endorsed Walsh in the general election. [27] Barros campaigned avidly on behalf of Walsh's general election candidacy. [8] [25]

Boston chief of economic development

After Walsh became mayor, he made Barros his chief of economic development. [23] Barros's mayoral campaign had elevated his notability, and, while he seemed likely to be offered a position in Walsh's administration, it was also, initially, speculated that Barros might instead make another run for elected office, with speculation circulating about a possible run for lieutenant governor or a run in the special election for the Massachusetts House of Representatives seat vacated by Carlos Henriquez. [25]

In February 2014, Walsh (one month into his mayoralty) appointed Barros as chief of economic development. [28] The newly-created position oversaw economic development in the city, and also was tasked with coordinating efforts across numerous city departments. [25] Aspects of economic development that the position was tasked overseeing included efforts to revitalize city neighborhoods, promotion of the city nationally and abroad, efforts to accelerate the creation of new jobs, and efforts to support small business in the city. [8] The position included purview over the Boston Redevelopment Authority. [29]

Barros's first day on the job was February 11, 2014. [30] He was the first person to hold this new position. [31] As chief of economic development, Barros claimed that his top priorities included economic equity, neighborhood development, and innovation. [32] Barros received a $135,000 annual salary in the position. He initially did not have a staff when he took office. However, Walsh soon gave Barros' position a ten-person staff and a budget of $500,000. [8]

Barros' first two years in the position saw him hold a low public profile, working largely behind-the-scenes. However, in January 2016, he garnered great public attention when it was announced that General Electric would be moving its headquarters to Boston, a matter that Barros had played a key role in achieving for Boston. [8] The Boston Globe jointly named Barros, Jay Ash, Steve Kadish, and Dan Koh its 2016 "Bostonians of the Year", crediting them with having been behind the deal which brought General Electric's headquarters to the city, each having done so, "with marching orders from their bosses". [33] In 2018, Boston magazine ran ranked Barros 15th on its list of "The 100 Most Influential People in Boston", writing,

He brought GE to Boston; that alone (despite the company’s recent troubles) earns him a spot on this list. Everywhere you look in the city—from the development in Dudley Square to the Seaport—you’ll find Barros’s fingerprints. You’ll also find believers ready to follow his lead. He’s the odds-on favorite to be the next mayor of Boston. [34]

Early into his tenure, Barros stated his desire for businesses to extend their opening hours later into the night. [35] In his position, Barros co-chaired the Imagine Boston 2030 citywide vision planning blueprint. [36] [37] He worked in partnership with MassChallenge to work to, "expand innovation efforts in Boston." [38] He also worked with MassRobotics on putting together their proposal for a grant for their MassWorks program. [39] Disclosed emails show that he played a role in coordinating with other Massachusetts cities about Boston's bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics. [40]

In February 2021, Barros resigned from the position in order to launch his second candidacy for mayor of Boston. Mayor Walsh would not be seeking re-election, being nominated by newly-inaugurated U.S. president Joe Biden to serve in Cabinet as secretary of labor. [41] [42] [43]

2021 mayoral campaign

Barros (far right) campaigning in 2021 John Barros Roxbury Unity Parade (4).jpg
Barros (far right) campaigning in 2021

In March 2021, Barros announced he would run for mayor in the 2021 Boston mayoral election. [44] If elected he would become the first black man to become mayor of Boston. [23] In a September 10, 2021 article, Ellen Barry of the New York Times described Barros as having, "struggled to get traction." [45] On the day of the primary election, Gregory Krieg of CNN described Barros as, "a heavy underdog". [46] On the day of the primary election, The Boston Globe characterized him as, "trailing the pack" in opinion polls. [47] However, in the days leading up to the election, Barros expressed confidence, questioning the accuracy of polling. [48] Barros ultimately placed fifth, with over 3% of the vote.

Subsequent career

In November 2021, Barros became managing principal of the Boston office of the real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield. [49] In January 2022, Barros became the first-ever visiting professional at Boston College's Joseph E. Corcoran Center for Real Estate and Urban Action at the Carroll School of Management. [50]

Awards and recognition

Among the awards and recognition Barros has received are the inaugural Community Service Award from the Boston Day & Evening Academy in 2008; the Robert Leo Ruffin Award from the Archdiocese of Boston in 2004; and the Action for Boston Community Development Roxbury Community Award in 2000. [51]

Personal life

Barros married his wife, Tchintcia, in 2011. [18] He has two children and resides in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, where he has served as a lay leader at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. [8] [52]

Electoral history

John Barros
John Barros 2013 (1).jpg
Barros in 2013
Boston Chief of Economic Development
In office
February 2014 February 2021
2013 Boston mayoral election
CandidatePrimary election [53] General election [54]
Votes%Votes%
Marty Walsh 20,85418.4772,58351.54
John R. Connolly 19,43517.2167,69448.07
Charlotte Golar Richie 15,54613.77 
Daniel F. Conley 12,77511.32 
Felix G. Arroyo 9,8958.76 
John Barros9,1488.10 
Robert Consalvo 8,6037.62 
Michael P. Ross 8,1647.23 
Bill Walczak 3,8253.39 
Charles Yancey 2,3892.12 
Charles Clemmons1,8001.59 
David Wyatt3340.30 
Write-ins 1300.125600.40
Total112,898100140,837100
2021 Boston mayoral election
CandidatePrimary election [55] General election [56]
Votes%Votes%
Michelle Wu 36,06033.4091,79463.96
Annissa Essaibi George 24,26822.4851,12535.62
Andrea Campbell 21,29919.73 
Kim Janey (acting incumbent)21,04719.49 
John Barros3,4593.20 
Robert Cappucci1,1851.10 
Jon Santiago (withdrawn)3680.34 
Richard Spagnuolo2860.26 
Scattering 00.005950.41
Total107,972100144,380100

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